The Regional Forum Workshop on Seasonal Forecasts of Agro-hydro-climatic characteristics of the rainy season for the Sudanian and Sahelian zones of West Africa and the Sahel (PRESASS) have been commended by the director-general of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike.
Anosike lauded AGRHYMET and ACMAD for their steadfast efforts in sustaining the Regional Climate Outlook since 1998, emphasising the critical role of regional collaboration in strengthening seasonal forecasting.
Addressing participants at the inauguration of the PRESASS workshop in Abuja, Anosike underscored the timeliness of the event against the backdrop of increasing weather-related hazards in the region. He highlighted the significance of NiMet’s Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) as an essential early warning tool, aimed at enhancing preparedness for climate disasters and safeguarding lives and national assets.
Anosike reiterated the importance of PRESSAS as a unified platform for regional seasonal climate outlook, emphasising the need for collective action in addressing climate disasters and accelerating climate resilience efforts. He called for sustained collaboration to enhance the effectiveness of the PRESSAS project, reaffirming the region’s reliance on this vital early warning tool.
In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Dr. Benard Gomez acknowledged the pivotal role of AGRHYMET in enhancing climate risk understanding and capacity building across the Sahel and West Africa. He highlighted the invaluable contributions of AGRHYMET in providing forecasts and training activities to national meteorological and hydrological services in the region, thus strengthening climate resilience and food security initiatives.
The director-general of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Engr. Clement Nze, underscored the workshop’s significance in leveraging scientific methods to address hydro-climatic challenges. He emphasised the complementary role of PRESASS in disaster risk management, noting its alignment with national-level predictions and its timely provision of climate change information.
Director-general of AGRHYMET, Dr. Abdul Ali expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, NiMet, and NIHSA for their unwavering support. He emphasised the importance of timely climate information in enabling effective planning for the rainy season, particularly for decision-makers and farmers. Ali also highlighted the sobering prediction from the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) and its partners, warning of imminent food crises affecting over 50 million people in the region during the upcoming lean season.
The PRESASS workshop serves as a testament to the collective commitment of regional stakeholders to address climate challenges collaboratively. By leveraging scientific expertise and fostering partnerships, initiatives like PRESASS contribute to building climate resilience and mitigating the impact of weather-related disasters, ultimately safeguarding lives and livelihoods across West Africa and the Sahel.
